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The impact of globalization and multinational corporations on schools and universities in Costa Rica and its implications for educational leaders

Running head: IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION 1
THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION AND MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS ON SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES IN COSTA RICA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERS
by
John William Bradley Baker
____________________________________________________________________
A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
May 2014
Copyright 2014 John William Bradley Baker

In a highly competitive and rapidly changing world, many countries are finding a need to adapt to a global market. A country’s educational system can be argued to be the driving force behind economic development. Costa Rica has developed rapidly over the past 30 years. Once relying on agricultural exports, it is now influenced by high‐technology foreign direct investment. The resulting growth of technology as a major export has given new direction and opportunity. In the past few decades, Costa Rica has seen investment by multinational corporations in the school system’s responsibility to develop students who are technically literate and possess 21st‐century skills. ❧ The Costa Rica school system faces a challenge to ensure that its future workforce has the skill set to take on new job opportunities of the future. Despite having 5 national universities, 51 private universities, and a 95% literacy rate, there remains a low secondary graduation rate and a low percentage of students pursuing higher education. ❧ In order to prepare students in Costa Rica to compete in a high-technology global market, there may need to be educational shifts to ensure future economic success. To make these educational shifts, leaders in government, industry, and education may all need to play a role. This study describes the impact of globalization and multinational corporations on educational leadership and development of 21st‐century skills in schools in Costa Rica. The study also identifies the roles that leaders play in the development and implementation of educational policies and determines whether these policies are producing a greater number of knowledge-ready workers.

The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given.

Running head: IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION 1
THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION AND MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS ON SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES IN COSTA RICA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERS
by
John William Bradley Baker
____________________________________________________________________
A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
May 2014
Copyright 2014 John William Bradley Baker